Leighty Racing Sprint Car Team | Rich Leighty, Washington Econo Sprint Car Organization #11

1972 would see a new car built. Ed Kvistad again built the bare frame, but this time from blue prints drawn up by Larry Spoon. The car proved to be very durable and successful, winning races on both dirt and asphalt, with and without the wing. Rich raced this car thru the 1985 season and it continued running until 1991 with Ken Rhodes, Mike Ehlers, and Randy Hooper driving. Power was a 292 C.I. Chevy. This car presently sits in the Leighty
shop awaiting restoration.

Before the 1986 season, this car was purchased from Dennis Anthony designer and expert craftman of this beauty that was twice voted best appearing car with the Washington Open Wheel. This car remained in the Leighty stable into the 1999 season. It was run one time in '99 with an impressive non-wing victory at Port Angeles. Steve Windust walked out of the stands and purchased it. Rich also won the final Spanaway Speedway W.O.W. title in this car in 1995. A picture of this car appears on page 276 of
Mel Anthony's excellent book,
Smoke, Sand & Rubber.

This '95 Gambler started out as a Drew and Vern Church car. Rick Leighty purchased it in 1999 and updated it to a coil over car. Rich and the car fit together like a glove and it became Rich's favorite car. With an Axel Walker 360 it had plenty of power and was very forgiving. Unfortunately, the car was destroyed in a 2004 practice crash at Tenino when the throttle hung up. The car did its job and Rich was able to get out with very severe bruises, but an old friend was lost.

The current car has been in the Leighty stable since 1999. Rick Leighty, Jeff Jewell, and Rich Leighty have all driven it with much success. The bare frame started out as a Sargent dirt chassis, then Axel Walker redesigned it turning it into a coil over asphalt chassis. The car has run with WESCO, NSRA, and USAC and even ran the Phoenix mile. Power continues to come from an Axel Walker 360 Chevy.